The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-09-14

6. Saltwater, Mnn, Wednesday, Sept. 1897

on the gallery. [ was much relieved when
l noticed the precautiOn they had taken to
keep me from falling out OF my room. l
could walk in there without any danger.
| feel confident that if [ had fallen off the
top gallery l would have become sick at the
stOmach-fOr even swinging makes me
deathly ill-Or possibly have knocked out a
tooth or sprained an ankle. Since l came
heard that one fellow had fallen from near
there and he died through fright before he
reached the ground. They had post NOR
tenn examination and by probing four times
found that he was dead half second be-
fore he struck the tagging. An eXamna-
ton of his brain showed that he was think
ing of the best way of alighting when one
OF those cross beams interrupted his
thought and he forgot his cue.
Well, after my door was locked l put the
stool on the bed. so could turn around
and surveyed my future home. l felt quite
thirsty and could hear water running some
where, but was unable to see it. l readily
saw that if l had water bucket in my
room I'd have to be outside. while 1
pondered weak and weary" someone came
to the door and very kindly offered me book
and newspaper. He then introduced him.
self-Cole Younger. Great Heavens! up
on the top gallery with Cole Younger 1
L y,
barber had gotten a sharp razor and cut my
throat or that had died of thirst. He looked
as big as mountain, and felt so small
that L feared he'd reach in and pull me out
between the bars. 1t didn't take very long,
however, for me to be convinced of the
fact that Cole was as good as he was large,
and l began to feel perfectly safe. After
dinner thought that if got down stairs
without dislOcating my neck, I'd 90 to the
warden and find out why he had the floors
and steps creased, but | discovered one of
those little boxes with sawdust in it, and
thought each man could take one and
sprinkle his own road. but the guard said,
''drop it," OF course dropped it, and the
look l gave that guard was squelcher. l
intended to wither him, but he didn't
wither He said he'd have one put in my
room, but didn't want any sawdust in my
room for could stand up all right there.
That night small man came around
with basket filled with nick-nacks. He
cross questioned me for a while and finally
gave me a pipe. and said l could whistle
for tobacco. l was just fixing my whistle
when he produced some tobacco and a
match. He let me light my pipe myself
and with few warning words such as
''when you fall keep the buttered side up''
4 knew he referred to my slipping off the
gallery-he left. This vender of small
wares treated me with such consideration
that became his friend and L thought he
would be mine. l congratulated myself that
had Staunch friend in the deputy warden,
but next day l discovered that had made a
mistake; he was a fellow-cOnvict by the
name of Gi)bert-I remembered the name
for saw steamboat once named Gilbert,
and he looked very much like her.
I've made other discoveries, but the inves-
tigating committee is in session, and being
naturally very timid, | am afraid to say
any more till they adjourn sine die.
Sept s. 1887. b. j.